WEST Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called for more women to stand in next year’s district council elections while backing a campaign calling for a more representative gender balance in parliament.

Throwing her support behind the 50:50 Petition, Mrs Baldwin said she hoped more women would be interested in running for office in next year’s elections.

Out of 650 MPs in the UK only 147 – or 22 per cent – are women. Worcestershire fares slightly better with two women – Mrs Baldwin and Redditch MP Karen Lumley – among its six elected members.

But Mrs Baldwin said women were still under-represented in politics.

“There are 32 million women in the UK making up 51 per cent on the population yet that is not reflected in the number of female MPs in the House of Commons,” she said.

“This government has made great strides ensuring that women are better represented in work, on boards and in other public roles.

“All organisations work better if they benefit from a range of perspectives. “But I share the view that there is still much to do and I would like to see the gender balance re-dressed, sooner rather than later.”

Mrs Baldwin added many women start their political careers in local government and she would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be interested in standing in next year’s district council elections.